Beautiful Church Buildings Once Filled With Believers – Now Overflowing with Apostasy

I went with my son to a town not too far from where we live. A beautiful town, up in the mountains – established over two centuries ago. Everywhere I looked, there were buildings with such character and exquisite architecture; truly breathtaking.

As we turned street corners there were huge stone churches from the 1700’s – they seemed to be everywhere. I stood in awe of these magnificent structures; thinking about the people who once sat in the pews and are since long gone from this earth.

I began to take note of the denominations of these churches. As we walked, my heart began to sink lower and lower.

Presbyterian USA

Lutheran

Church of Christ

Methodist

I pondered as we admired the beautiful design of the buildings – was there once solid, Bible based teaching from the pulpits of these houses of worship? Did the congregants enter the doors with Bibles in hand – excited to hear God’s Word preached? Was there a love for the Jewish people in these places? Did they understand that Jesus was a Jew? Did they grasp that the Bible was written by Jews?

My son, who has fallen away from the faith, read my expression and inquired if I was ok. At first I was hesitant to say anything because I knew that it would just cause friction. But then I could not help myself and said “Most of these churches hate Israel and are not preaching from God’s Word any longer.”

That set off a argument as to why I am always so “negative.” Anything I would say at that point would be fuel on the fire, so I said nothing. He did tell me that he reads my articles.

So son – if you are reading this, I’d like to respond to your comment about being negative. Perhaps this is a better way to communicate the truths from God’s Word to you. I pray that the Lord Himself will quicken this to your heart and open your eyes to His truth.

Hatred for Israel in Many Denominations:

Many mainline denominations have decided that the Church replaced Israel in the eyes of God. This is called Replacement Theology, and is a lie from Satan’s mouth and the pit of hell. The truth is the Church is the Church, and Israel is Israel.

We whom have been born again are saved by Grace through faith. Most of Israel is not walking with God, nor do they believe that He sent His Son Jesus Christ as the Messiah of the world. As a matter of fact, sadly most Jews are secular, and some do not believe that God exists.

But the Lord is not done with Israel. He made a Covenant with them, and although they have been faithless, God is faithful to His Word. Israel is God’s Land. Jerusalem belongs to Him and it angers Him when there is talk of splitting Jerusalem.

“God determined to call out a special people for Himself, and through that special people He would bring blessing to all the nations. The Abrahamic Covenant is paramount to a proper understanding of the kingdom concept and is foundational to Old Testament theology. The Abrahamic Covenant is described in Genesis 12:1–3, and (1) it is an unconditional covenant. There are no conditions attached to it (no “if” clauses suggesting its fulfillment is dependent on man). (2) It is also a literal covenant in which the promises should be understood literally. The land that is promised should be understood in a normal definition of the word—it is not a figure of heaven. (3) It is also an everlasting covenant. The promises that God made to Israel are eternal.

There are three main features to the Abrahamic Covenant:

1. The promise of land (Genesis 12:1). God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees to a land that He would give him (Genesis 12:1). This promise is reiterated in Genesis 13:14–18 where it is confirmed by a shoe covenant; its dimensions are given in Genesis 15:18–21 (precluding any notion of this being fulfilled in heaven). The land aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant is expanded in Deuteronomy 30:1–10, which is the Palestinian Covenant.

2. The promise of descendants (Genesis 12:2). God promised Abraham that He would make a great nation out of him. Abraham, who was 75 years old and childless (Genesis 12:4), was promised many descendants. This promise is amplified in Genesis 17:6 where God promised that nations and kings would descend from the aged patriarch. This promise (which is expanded in the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7:12–16) would eventuate in the Davidic throne with Messiah’s kingdom rule over the Hebrew people.

3. The promise of blessing and redemption (Genesis 12:3). God promised to bless Abraham and the families of the earth through him. This promise is amplified in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34; cf. Hebrews 8:6–13) and has to do with “Israel’s spiritual blessing and redemption.” Jeremiah 31:34 anticipates the forgiveness of sin. The unconditional and eternal nature of the covenant is seen in that the covenant is reaffirmed to Isaac (Genesis 21:12; 26:3–4). The “I will” promises again suggest the unconditional aspect of the covenant. The covenant is later confirmed to Jacob (Genesis 28:14–15). It is noteworthy that God reaffirmed these promises amid the sins of the patriarchs, which fact further emphasizes the unconditional nature of the Abrahamic Covenant.

God’s method of fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant is literal, inasmuch as God partially fulfilled the covenant in history: God blessed Abraham by giving him the land (Genesis 13:14–17), and, centuries later, the sons of Abraham took control of the land: “So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there” (Joshua 21:43). God blessed Abraham spiritually (Genesis 13:8, 18; 14:22, 23; 21:22); God gave him numerous descendants (Genesis 22:17; 49:3–28). An important element of the Abrahamic Covenant, however, demands a still-future fulfillment with Messiah’s kingdom rule:

(1) Israel as a nation will possess the totality of the land in the future. Numerous Old Testament passages anticipate the future blessing of Israel and her possession of the land as promised to Abraham. Ezekiel envisions a future day when Israel is restored to the land (Ezekiel 20:33–37, 40–42; 36:1–37:28).

(2) Israel as a nation will be converted, forgiven, and restored (Romans 11:25–27).

(3) Israel will repent and receive the forgiveness of God in the future (Zechariah 12:10–14). The Abrahamic Covenant finds its ultimate fulfillment in connection with the return of Messiah to rescue and bless His people Israel. It is through the nation Israel that God promised in Genesis 12:1–3 to bless the nations of the world. That ultimate blessing will issue in the forgiveness of sins and Messiah’s glorious kingdom reign on earth.” [1] – source

Satan has blinded the Nations and has Wreaked Havoc in our Churches

When leadership of churches stray from God’s Word, and decide that their opinions supersede His Word, the devil gets a stronghold.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

The So-called Palestinian Conflict

Ever since 1948, when prophecy from the Word of God was fulfilled, and the Jewish people were called from the four corners of the earth back to their God-given homeland of Israel – there has been turmoil and conflict in the region.

The Arabic nations believe that the land of Israel was promised to Ishmael (the son of Abraham and Hagar; the handmaiden of Sarah. The truth is that God promised the land of Israel to Isaac – the son of Abraham and Sarah.

“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:1-6)

Many mainstream denominations are siding with the Palestinians and are calling for the world to boycott Israel. They truly do not know what they are doing! They have fallen away from God and His Word. This is the danger of neglecting the Word of God.

So son, if you are reading this, please understand that Israel is God’s land and the people of Israel are His people. They don’t believe in Jesus yet, but there will come a day when all of Israel will be saved.

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:25-29)

Son, please don’t take my speaking “truth” to you, as being negative. As I read God’s Word, I find that it IS truth. Jesus is truth. Read His words:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).